What our Clients Say

We asked Shakespeare Homes to demolish two walls in our condo at the Grovernor Ambleside complex in West Vancouver. They did so promptly and efficiently. It required fine work with respect to the remaining walls, the expensive flooring, electricity re-routing, and finishing. The work was done with absolutely no recognition of any pre-construction wall structures. The job entailed demolishing and constructing the main, massive wall in the condominium. Any faults would have been obvious at first sight. None of that was an issue.

When the job was finished the clean-up was impeccable, clean, and dust-free. We would recommend Shakespeare Homes for any job, outside or inside. Of course, we subsequently asked Shakespeare to perform some additional work which, again, was done in a timely, clean, and efficient manner.

Working with Shakespeare has been an absolute pleasure from start to finish. From the very beginning, Mark and his team showed just how much they cared about the success of our build – maybe even as much as we did.

Our vision was to completely renovate and expand a 1950’s post and beam home for our young family. Mark’s professionalism and commitment to excellence was on display right from our first meeting, where we discussed the pros and cons of such an approach. Pulling in a very experienced and design-conscious architect was the first time, but not the last, where Shakespeare’s incredible network of skills and trades greatly benefited our job. Not only did we get a beautiful and workable plan, we identified quickly what the scope of the overall job would be and created a vision for where the project would end up.

Along the way in a project like this, there are countless choices, decisions, trade-offs and compromises that need to be addressed. At each juncture, the team at Shakespeare provided the right amount of guidance, knowledge, expertise, and support to help us move things forward. Mark and his team were always available to walk through options, offer suggestions, and find solutions. If ever there was a challenge or issue that needed to be addressed the Shakespeare team identified it, communicated with us about it, and most importantly, offered solutions and perspectives for how to solve it. The communication skills of our project lead and their team were exceptional, and their open and honest style ensured that we were always informed and involved. The entire team at Shakespeare operated seamlessly as a team which made our lives a lot easier, it also instilled a lot of confidence in us that every little detail was going to be handled appropriately. Never did we feel alone or that our job wasn’t their top priority – Mark was always happy to chat or text almost regardless of the time of day or what else was going on. Having the knowledge that he was on top of everything and available any time we needed was incredibly beneficial and really put our minds at ease.

We are immensely grateful for their unwavering commitment to excellence and would recommend them to anyone looking to build or renovate. Shakespeare truly made our dream home a reality, and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

I thought it would be worthwhile sharing my experience with Shakespeare homes to help others. When we decided to do a large addition to our house it was a daunting challenge to figure out which contractor to use. We had not come across Shakespeare in our search for contractors so we originally chose a contractor that was not located in the North Shore – and that turned out to be a large mistake. The project dragged on with essentially no progress for a year and a half, at which point we were presented with an updated price estimate from the original contractor of more than triple the initial quote. At the pace they were moving, it seemed that it would take 10 years to complete and was already at triple the initial quote. That’s when we decided to contact other local contractors to see if there was a better option.

After meeting with Mark and his team we decided to make the switch and the difference was day and night. His team was on it from day one moving very quickly throughout the entire project. They also have a fantastic network of local service contractors, with the various trades arriving on demand as needed, which helps the project move forward very quickly. Everyone involved with Shakespeare is a pleasure to work with and very professional.

When doing a custom home addition there are always unique challenges relating to the existing home and the surrounding environment. The Shakespeare team is excellent at problem-solving and coming up with innovative solutions. Shakespeare is an experienced navigator of the dizzying array of constantly changing (and often nonsensical) municipal regulations which is immensely valuable. Building quality is also very important to Shakespeare, they do not cut corners and are always giving clear advice on where there are sensible cost savings and where it is worth it to spend extra for long-lasting quality – they care about their reputation and it shows. For all significant cost elements of the project, Shakespeare would get quotes from multiple vendors to get the best price.

Since they have done so many high-quality homes on the North Shore, they have a wealth of ideas about house features to consider that add value to your home and improve your life – I highly value their advice. We are thrilled with the results.

Overall, I developed a high degree of trust with Shakespeare and would definitely use them again and would highly recommend them to others.

Sincerely,
Desmond

Mark and the Shakespeare Team were engaged to build our laneway home.

From the beginning of the project, we had excellent communication. As a client, we wanted to know the details for all phases of construction and to that end, we had many discussions about the build and the options available to us.

The laneway home(Coach house)was finished to a very high level and the occupant, our family member, is enjoying this beautiful home.

We would certainly highly recommend the Shakespeare team.

Shane and I wanted to thank the entire Shakespeare team for an outstanding experience with our recent renovation. Our experience has been positive from start to finish, and we have continuously been impressed by the clear communication, attention to detail, customer service and focus on ensuring that all steps are completed to the highest standards. We would highly recommend Shakespeare to any of our friends and family.

From the very first meeting with Mark we had confidence that the project would be done properly, we trusted the team and knew that our best interests would be taken to heart, and this made us feel completely comfortable handing over our home to Shakespeare. Many of our friends have had challenging experiences with renovations, but for us it was smooth and honestly quite pleasant. We think this is particularly meaningful as our family, including our 2 children, lived in our home throughout the entire renovation, interacting with the Shakespeare team and subcontractors daily. We anticipated that this might be problematic, but instead felt comfortable, safe and respected throughout the process despite the ongoing work and daily arrival of trades and deliveries.

In any renovation we’re sure that there are small (or major) challenges along the way, and ours was no exception, but at each step when either we or your team identified a problem, the Shakespeare team immediately researched a solution, presented the options, and advised us on their recommended course of action. Any concerns we brought forward were addressed without question. In particular, we are incredibly grateful to your team of Levente, Daniel and Justin. Levente was an absolute pleasure to have as a member of our household as he was working on site for several months, communicated with us daily and offered helpful insights and recommendations. He is a huge asset to the Shakespeare team, completing all work with outstanding quality, and we miss having him around! Daniel and Justin were an exceptional team keeping the project on track, and we always appreciated their communication and guidance. When a problem arose, they took the time to find a proposed solution first before approaching us, so that rather than feeling frustration with a problem we felt confidence in the resolution.

Now that we are enjoying our new kitchen and bathrooms, we look back on the renovation experience with positive feelings about the entire process. Shakespeare finished our project on time, on budget, and to the highest standards of quality, and most importantly we felt confidence throughout the entire process that our family and our home were in good hands. Thank you to the entire Shakespeare team!

Sara & Shane

To Whom It May Concern:
We are very happy with the high-quality work that Mark Cooper and the Shakespeare Homes & Renovations Team, completed in the top-to-bottom renovation and extension of our home in Upper Lynn Valley, North Vancouver.

In early 2020 we considered purchasing one of the few original farmhouse properties remaining in North Vancouver. Built in 1930 from materials logged and milled nearby, the farm supplied Lynn Valley residents with eggs and poultry over much of the mid 20th Century. While we loved the craftsman design, the home had long since fallen into neglect and we knew it would need extensive work.

After contacting several companies, we selected Mark and the Shakespeare team to help inform our decision to purchase and then work with us throughout a year-long renovation adventure. While it was an intimidating prospect, starting right at the outset of the COVID 19 pandemic, in hindsight it was the best decision we could have ever made.

We wanted our renovation to keep the original look and feel, updated to meet current building standards and the needs of a modern family. With little about the original home that was ‘standard’, we leaned heavily on Mark and team’s ability to listen to what we needed, nudge us towards creative solutions, and keep the project moving during a challenging time. Our renovation included entirely new services from the street, structural upgrades and foundation underpinning, new insulation, plumbing and electricals, a two-bedroom basement rental suite, a new top floor, complete interior finishings, and a rear extension with covered deck, mud room and storage area. Shakespeare’s quality of workmanship is obvious in their attention to detail for design features such as the clipped gable roof and craftsman window trim, efficient use of interior space, and an extension that looks original to the house.

The positive feedback about the finished home that we’ve received from neighbours has been amazing, especially from old timers happy to see one of Lynn Valley’s last original homes kept intact. With a flourishing veggie garden and new fruit trees out back, it has the feel of the old farmhouse made new.

We highly recommend Mark Cooper and Shakespeare Homes!

Mark Cooper and Shakespeare team took care of our project from start to finish. His team of trades was honest and knowledgeable in all their recommendations and solutions.

We renovated our main floor kitchen and living room and we could not be happier with the finished product and how our family functions in the new layout.

While major renovations can have challenges and some unknown surprises, Shakespeare dealt with them professionally and came up with solutions that suited our budgets and tastes.

Based on our experience with Shakespeare during this project and more importantly getting to the finish line to our full and complete satisfaction, we would highly recommend Shakespeare Homes.

We contacted Mark 2 years ago to complete a renovation job for us (which included gutting our downstairs unit within a Vancouver Special, and updating the 2 additional bathrooms in the upstairs unit). Mark and his team were fantastic from Day 1, giving us advice on what to do (or not do), and what made sense to us as a multi-generational family. The team was responsive to our concerns (even in the late evening), and has never not responded to our calls, even 2 years later. Even the trades (ie. Waterline Plumbing) that were used were fantastic! Just like any major renovation, there were bumps along the way with some minor delays, but the team always kept us up-to-date. The quality of work done on this renovation has been top notch. I have happily shared with friends who did our renovations, and would be happy to call Mark again for any future renovations.

May 11, 2020
To Whom It May Concern:
We are very pleased to recommend Mark Cooper and his team at Shakespeare Homes & Renovations (SHR).

We had multiple contractors quote our project. We were very impressed with how Shakespeare Homes pulled together, within a few days, all the trades to quote on our scope of work. And within a week, they reviewed with us a very detailed construction estimate budget. Their professionalism and knowledge assured us that we could trust them with our renovation. We had some environmental concerns within our home and we were also dealing with a health crisis within our family. Mark jumped into action and we were very thankful they could start our renovation immediately!

Living in a townhome, we were required to present our project to the strata council. Due to many issues with other renovations from other units, the strata challenged Mark with several questions. Mark’s expertise satisfied the strata council and kept our project moving forward.

Our renovation included: taking our first floor down to the studs and re-insulating; a new re-configured kitchen; new bathroom; new flooring throughout our home; moldings and baseboards; plumbing; a new HVAC system; new paint and electrical throughout.

We felt really supported through the whole process. They provided weekly updates on the progress of our renovation. They had many great design suggestions along the way and the consistent communication made for a stress free experience. Despite the restrictions of physical distancing during the start of covid 19, they followed the protocol and finished our renovation on time.

We were so impressed with the whole process; it was smooth from beginning to end. We are so pleased with our home! We highly recommend Mark Cooper (and Dan) and Shakespeare Homes!

Warm regards,

Brenda and Doug
North Vancouver

I looked into multiple contractors for our renovation and knew Mark would be a great fit as soon as we met. We purchased our home knowing that we were going to renovate the dated and non-functional basement. During the initial walk through, it was apparent that Mark was extremely knowledgeable, experienced, and professional. He was able to give us suggestions on how to maximize our space, options on how to accomplish what we envisioned, and details around what the job would entail. But what was more important to me was how genuine, honest, and thoughtful he was. With us being new to the neighbourhood, Mark went above and beyond introducing us to neighbourhood contacts and orienting us to the neighbourhood. Mark would check in regularly and made us feel safe and welcome in our new neighbourhood. Mark’s attention and concern did not waver throughout the renovation and in fact, he became a great friend.

Mark and the team at Shakespeare Homes have been a pleasure to work with. All the work that was done beautifully. All the people who came to work on the renovation were professional and courteous. We are extremely satisfied with our renovated space – it looks amazing and is better than what we had imagined.

For awhile now I’ve been thinking I should write you a letter commending you and your company on the excellent job you did renovating the main floor of our 1920 craftsman home in North Vancouver.

You did that job SIX years ago—2014. And today it looks the same as it did then. I mean there are probably some paint scraped on some corners, but honestly Mark—it looks as grand today as it did six years ago. We were all blown away on the end product then…but that’s easy to be impressed right after completion.

I tell Rosemary—we don’t LIVE in our house, we LUXURIATE in it. We love being in the front room with the sun and the warm wallpaper. The kitchen is fabulous—the glass pulls, the fridge door that looks like a cupboard, the beautiful oak floor..with the furniture your designer picked out..it’s still all fabulous. It’s beautiful.

We get compliments on it and we don’t even think of it as grand—it’s just the house we live in. But it still impresses.

When I think back on those months, I remember your workers being kind to our family, and your foreman was a great fellow.

Thanks again for a great job. I think it’s WAY more impressive to get a reference letter years after the fact, when the truth on the workmanship and materials is out. Our home is still gorgeous.

“We own a 1958 post and beam home. Prior to our home renovation and addition, our home had lighting issues, was compartmentalized by room and didn’t have the ‘flow’ that we wanted: a bright, open space that would be great for entertaining friends and family. Our renovation included a new addition, a new kitchen, new bathrooms and new flooring throughout the home.

We did our homework and interviewed several contractors to undertake our project. When we met with Mark Cooper, we were immediately impressed with his knowledge of what it would take to complete our project and he put our mind at ease.

Throughout the project we were kept informed through both weekly updates and through mobile technology. We were even able to track our project’s progress remotely on our phones while we took an out of town trip.

The Shakespeare team dealt with the challenges that come with a older home renovation and our home had its share of issues. That said, Shakespeare delivered an amazing final product – we could not be happier. We now have transformed our home into a space that has an open and modern look. They dealt with the lighting issues by recommending an amazing LED strip system which is now a talking point when we entertain guests. They also recommended changes to our master bathroom design that saved us a significant amount of money, which was very much appreciated.

All in all we are very happy with Mark Cooper and his team and would recommend Shakespeare to anyone considering a renovation.

Sincerely,
Mark and Angela, North Vancouver”

We recently completed a major interior renovation of our residence in West Vancouver using the services of Shakespeare Homes and Renovations Inc. We had high expectations when we decided to make the commitment to renovate and we are pleased to say Mark Cooper and his team delivered the results we were looking for.

Having never previously undertaken a project like this, we knew that we would need an experienced contractor to see the project through to completion. We met with a number of potential contractors but our final selection of choosing Shakespeare was based on the willingness of Mark Cooper and his Project Manager to take time to not only show us other projects they had completed but build a relationship of trust that felt was needed given the potential for changes needing to be made along the way.

In using Shakespeare, you get an experienced and coordinated team of professionals including designer and skilled trades persons. The quality of the trades, especially the millwork, finish carpentry and painting were second to none which resulted in a home we will enjoy for years to come as we entertain our family and friends.

Site and project managers were always willing to discuss project status and any change orders to our satisfaction. One of the things that became noticeable throughout the project was the cleanliness of the works site and no interference with the neighbourhood over the better par of the year; a sign of experienced professionals.

Did the project take a little longer than we first thought it would take? Yes, but change orders to address specific issues not originally anticipated were the main cause. Did it cost more than we first thought? Yes, but again change orders that we requested were the main contributing factor. What we can say is that when these issues arose, the Shakespeare team were available to discuss, provide options and solutions so that we had confidence the changes made were being done with economy and value in mind.

As a result, we would not hesitate to recommend Shakespeare Homes and Renovations, and Mark Copper, as the contractor to build the home of your dreams.

With gratitude,

Tracey & David Osachoff

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We purchased our 1960s Cape Cod style home in 2011. In the months following the purchase, we decided that we wanted to take the house from the 1960’s to the 21st century and create a more modern, stylish and functional family home.

In preparation, we interviewed a number of renovation companies including Shakespeare Homes & Renovations. As busy working professionals with a young family, we wanted a renovator who had the team, talent and project management skills to complete our project in a timely manner. After many discussions with Mark and meeting a number of his previous clients in their homes, we were confident that Mark and his team would do a professional job for us. Mark also introduced us to Susanne Doise, of Sensitive Design. Susanne’s combined talents in both architecture and interior design truly came together to turn our vision into a reality.

Our renovation began in late November 2011. The demolition phase was very extensive taking the main floor of our home completely down to its studs. As in a lot of renovations, once the demolition phase was underway we encountered a number of unexpected challenges which Mark and his team handled in their stride. The scope of the renovation was extensive and included the removal of three interior walls as well as a fireplace and chimney. Mark’s team dealt with this efficiently and also completely overhauled all of our old plumbing, electrical and heating systems system as well as installing an instant hot water system. The ceilings and walls throughout the main floor were also levelled to give our open plan design a clean modern look.

Mark and his team also helped us deal with a number of structural issues that demanded innovative and cost effective solutions, and these have made a huge difference to the overall layout and flow of the house. Another aspect of this renovation project included updating the dated exterior of the home. Mark’s team replaced the original stucco and red brick with red stained cedar shingles and natural stone which really brightened up and refreshed the exterior. We also had Jeff, Mark’s stone mason, replace our cracked walkway with slate, and repoint and reinforce some of the granite retaining walls.

Mark was excellent at keeping us informed about what was happening throughout the entire renovation, and he constantly provided suggestions and offered various effective and efficient solutions to all of the issues we encountered. Mark and his team were able to address every issue we encountered effectively and with great attention to quality and detail.

The entire renovation took less than 4 months and meant we were back in our home in mid-March 2012, which was an amazing achievement considering that we basically rebuilt the house from the inside out! Mark’s team was always professional, courteous and helpful throughout the entire renovation. Each of the subcontractors working for Mark displayed the same level of professionalism at all times. Mark was always on top of every issue and managed the entire project personally which contributed to the speed and overall quality of the project.

To sum up, some of the comments we have had from friends and neighbours since we moved back in have included “Wow, Awesome, Amazing, ‘’is this the same house?’” and so on. We think that these comments are the greatest testament to the work that Mark and his team have done and we have been totally blown away by the transformation.

We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Shakespeare Homes & Renovations to anyone who is contemplating a renovation project. Their professionalism, expertise, attention to detail and total focus on quality is second to none and they can be trusted to take bring a new dimension to any home.

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From the first day we met Mark Cooper we knew we would hire Shakespeare Homes to do our renovation. We spent an entire day touring previous projects, meeting trades at work, meeting clients, discussing our plans and generally getting to know each other. Mark and his staff were all extremely knowledgeable, personable and professional.

Our project would prove to be one of the most challenging the company has completed due to the design, the creek in the back yard and the slope of the lot, etc. Mark knew exactly what we wanted and was confident they could give us our dream home. There would be many obstacles and unknowns to overcome but they were all handled with ease by Shakespeare.

We now have one of the most beautiful homes in the neighborhood. All the work done on our property exceeded building codes and was expertly done. Small details are everywhere throughout the project that make the home special and give it higher value. There was extensive use of granite, exposed rafters, pre stained double exposure cedar shingles and complete landscaping of the property. A job so well done that this renovation has been nominated for a prestigious award.

It was a pleasure to work with Shakespeare and I would highly recommend Mark, his crew and the fantastic sub trades. I am speaking from the experience of being onsite almost every day, working alongside some of the most talented people that I have ever met. Thank you for building our dream.

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“We recently had a major renovation done by Shakespeare Homes. We are extremely happy with the job Mark, his crew and his trades did. Ge and he team were extremely professional, diligent and efficient. Mark is very conscientious in keeping you involved and up to date on the renovation project. The workmanship is of high quality with lots of attention given to the pertinent details.

Based on our experience with Shakespeare Homes we have no hesitation in recommending Mark and his team to anyone doing a renovation.

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We wanted to write this letter to express our sincere thanks to Mark and his team at Shakespeare Homes for doing such a fantastic job with our renovation. From the moment we met Mark we knew that he was extremely organized and detail oriented. He expertly guided us through our renovation from the stage of conception to completion.

One of the things that impressed us the most was Mark’s ability to manage our renovation and the people who work with him. Over the course of the three months that our renovation took place there were people in our home working every single day. Working under a tight time constraint (we were having our second baby) Mark was able to make sure that everything was completed on time. This was no simple feat considering we encountered several major unforeseen things that needed to be fixed along the way. We also really appreciated Mark’s ability to communicate with us throughout our renovation. We felt that we knew what was happening every step of the way. Anytime that we needed to ask Mark a question he always responded in a very timely manner.

Lastly, we would like to make note of Mark’s talented crew and the sub trades that he uses. Everyone that we met throughout the course of our renovation was extremely professional and hard working. They took care in what they did and it really shows in the final product.

We would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Shakespeare Homes to anyone who is looking to do a renovation. We are thrilled with our home and we wouldn’t change a thing!

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I had a vision for my kitchen as a warm, liveable, inviting space for my family which has materialized and I could not be happier. At each step of the way, Mark informed me of what was happening, gave suggestions, offered ideas and always let me know the cost involved. He was easy to get a hold of for questions… The end result for me was just what I wanted.

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Shakespeare Homes was professional, responsive to our concerns and provided design suggestions throughout our bathroom renovations. The trades were courteous and worked to high standards.

Mark ensured client satisfaction with the finished product and was friendly and approachable throughout the renovation.

We would be happy to use Shakespeare services again for major renovations..

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We are very pleased with the high level of professionalism and integrity of Mark Cooper and the Shakespeare Homes and Renovations Team. Mark, his staff and Team of Trades are very knowledgeable and highly skilled craftsmen.

Our house renovation was extensive, occurring on two floors, encompassing an addition, as well as many structural changes to the original home. The renovation included all elements of trades and finishing work – a new house essentially!

We were provided regular progress updates and were involved as much, or as little, as we wanted or had time to be. The project was completed in a timely manner and exceeded our expectations. Mark aligns himself with a terrific designer, with fantastic design idea. Susanne Doise of Sensitive Design did an excellent job of facilitating design into reality.

Based on our experiences we have no reservations recommending Mark Cooper and the entire Shakespeare Team to carry out a renovation – of any size.

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Hi Mark,
This is to formally thank you for the excellent work you and your people did in renovating our home. From the early planning stages to the last finishing touches, you and your crew were always approachable, open, knowledgeable and responsive to our concerns.

We know this project was complex because we wanted to live in our home throughout the reno. We appreciated the care you consistently took to cordon off the construction areas from the living areas and to regularly clean up the work areas, especially on Fridays. Things were also made easier by the consistently positive and courteous attitudes of your primary workers throughout this process.

The online program was very useful to keep track of scheduling and the extra efforts made to meet our Christmas deadline were hugely appreciated. Communication as a whole was good. We always knew we could get in touch with your team and that they would respond quickly.

Finally, the quality of the work itself was outstanding and we love our new home! We would have no hesitation in recommending you to any of our neighbors on the North Shore.

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In 2012, Shakespeare Homes completed an extensive renovation on our home. A few months later we decided to have some additional work done. Who did we choose to do this additional work? Shakespeare of course!

Since Mark and his team completed our major primary renovation, we brought them back in to create a home office/rec room in our garage and then back again to update our master bathroom. We’ve been very pleased with the results of all of these projects. Excess space at the back of our garage has now been turned into a home office/rec room increasing our square footage and creating a flexible area that can be used for a range of activities.

Our master bathroom was small, dated and required more extensive work. Not only did Mark’s team help us find space where there did not appear to be any, they helped us to create a bright, modern bathroom that suited our home. All of the work was done to a very high standard, and with minimal disruption to daily life.

With the help of Mark and his team, our house has truly become a home.

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As the last sub-trade out of a home, we’ll be the first to say that Shakespeare Homes is the most professional general contractor we’ve ever worked for. Counter to our industry’s culture, Shakespeare is continuously, without fail, pushing the envelope on efficient subtrade orchestration, job site organization and lasting quality. They take every one of their projects seriously and the end result is seriously good.

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Thinking about a renovation or custom home?

We highly recommend Shakespeare Homes for any construction you would like to have done on your home. The quality of the work was of the highest standard.

They completed an extensive renovation to our townhouse on time in spite of a extremely tight schedule. Shakespeare’s management and staff was very professional and competent, they made a difficult situation as easy as possible. Their trades were very competent and easy to work with always coming when they said they would be here. We really benefited from suggestions from Shakespeare and their trades. Our home was always left very clean at the end of the day and all work was completed within the bylaws of the strata. Our neighbours remarked that there was minimal disruption.

We are extremely pleased with the results of our renovation.

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PJ Kids Club is a non-profit organization that provides childcare services for over 200 families in the North Shore. We came to Mark Cooper and his team last summer, and hired them for a major renovation of the centre.

Since we operate 52 weeks per year this was a big challenge. We only had 9 days during Spring Break 2013 to finish a project that included bathrooms, floors, lighting, painting, building storage places and new rooms, and they did it all in an impressive short time. We were able to open the centre on time with no delays, and the renovations were dreams come true for all our staff, families and children!

We cannot thank enough Mark and his team for all their efforts and the quality of their work!

If you are looking for a miracle, then don’t hesitate to contact Shakespeare, you will be pleasantly surprised!

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We are very pleased with the high quality of your work. Your team is not only very skilled, but is also very reliable and trustworthy.

It is challenging to live in a house while major renovations are underway, and so we were very impressed with the care taken to minimize disruption while maintaining a tight timeline. When we started we were concerned to ensure that the quality of the work would match or exceed the original construction. You assured us that it would, and you have lived up to that commitment.

We have already recommended your business to our friends, and will be happy to provide a reference if requested.

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Please accept this letter of reference for your future clients review. It has now been a few months that you and your crew have completed our extensive renovation on our home in North Vancouver.

We would be remiss not to thank you formally on behalf of our entire family for the home you created for us. You and your crew provided us with the professionalism and detailed work that we were looking for when seeking out a contractor. Our relationship managed to grow over the months, so much so that you were able to envision what we expected in our finished product.

We are so happy with the work , we hope selfishly that you display it on your website so that many people can see the quality work your company provides.

Thank you again.

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We contracted Shakespeare Homes & Renovation to do a complete bathroom renovation after our first contractor closed his business. Mark’s company was recommended to us by our neighbours who had done a complete house renovation.

The team from Shakespeare stepped in and helped us to successfully complete the project. We were impressed by the steps the team took to prepare and protect our home from renovation debris and dust. The Shakespeare team were very professional and apt at problem solving and making suggestions to ensure we were left with a high standard of workmanship. We were also impressed with the quality and pride of workmanship shown by all the sub-trades.

RE:Family Room and Front Entry Hall

We were most impressed by the bathroom renovation completed for us by Shakespeare Homes & Renovations in 2010, so it seemed natural to choose them again to do some renovations on our main floor which included installing French patio doors, new windows, a new front entry door and new ceilings and lighting in our family room.

When we had issues with the quality of the front door, Mark quickly assembled a meeting with the manufacturer’s rep, the supplier and the painter which resulted in the manufacturer providing us with a replacement door. We appreciated his support and professionalism in getting the problem quickly resolved to our satisfaction.

Once again, we were impressed by the quality of the workmanship and attention to detail done by Mark’s crew and his sub-trades.

Re: Drainage, Driveway, Pathway and Retaining Wall
April 2012
This is the third project and the third year in a row that we have used Shakespeare Homes & Renovations. This project involves renewing the drainage around our house, installation of an interlocking driveway and installation of a flagstone path and retaining wall. To date, the sub-trades Mark has chosen have produced a very high standard of work.

Although this project is ongoing, we are once again pleased with the thoroughness and professionalism shown by the Shakespeare crew in dealing with problems that have arisen. We feel confident that they have considered all options and have provided us with information on the best solutions.

We would most certainly recommend this company. We would use them without hesitation for another project in the future.

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Introduced by a mutual client in 2008, all I can say, this was a turning point in my design career working with builders.

Mark and I have accomplished numerous projects together since then from complete interior makeovers to encompassing an entire home. Our working relationship has since grown to successful builder/design teamwork.

What I appreciate the most in Mark are his leadership skills, knowledge, experience and dedication. Mark makes sure that he is always on top of everything between client, designer/architect and keeping his crew organized and punctual. Having worked with the Shakespeare Homes team for a few years now, I’ve gotten to know them all very well and they are a great bunch of hard working guys and because of them, all our projects have become great accomplishments.

Mark and I have a great relationship and mutual trust. I provide him with the permit drawings, design and specifications and he executes them to my expectation, along with some of his own great ideas, he is very detail oriented. I know our Design/Build relationship will continue producing ‘dream homes’ for a long time to come.

I highly recommend Mark Cooper of Shakespeare Homes, should anybody look for a builder for their renovation or new home, because you not only need an honest, trustworthy and knowledgeable crew, you need the same in their leader. Shakespeare Homes is one off the Best.

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Thinking about a renovation or custom home?

After finally making the decision to embark on the complete remodeling and renovation of the lower level of our home, my wife and I interviewed three different contractors. Based on a combination of pricing and Mark’s seemingly straight forward no nonsense approach we chose Shakespeare Homes, and we were not disappointed.

Mark’s crew showed up on time on day one and they were there every day on time until the project was completed. As is the case when dealing with 50 year old homes in a renovation process there was issues that arouse, but Mark was always able to offer more than one solution that would allow us to make appropriate decisions based on cost and impact on the big picture.

The quality of Shakespeare Homes work is excellent, with great attention to detail and finishing. We are extremely happy with the finished product and would not hesitate to recommend Mark and his company to friends and family.

Read more testimonials and reviews about our projects in North Vancouver and West End.

Thinking about a renovation or custom home?

We initially chose Shakespeare Homes because of an advert in a local magazine. We were very impressed by the website and previous testimonials from clients. We found Mark very friendly and professional in his approach.

From our initial meeting Mark was always available, incredibly organised and full of helpful advice. It was a great asset to have Susanne Doise recommended from Sensitive Design. As Susanne is both an architect and a designer, she was able to come and take all the house measurements for our initial design.

All the work to date has been handled promptly and professionally.

For personal reasons we have been unable to proceed with our proposed renovation but would have absolutely no reservations in recommending Mark and his team and hope that we will have the opportunity to work with them in the future.

Read more testimonials and reviews about our projects in North Vancouver and West End.

Thinking about a renovation or custom home?

They’re back!

Once we made the decision to renovate our basement the rest was easy and basically involved a friendly call to Mark Cooper at Shakespeare Homes.

Mark and his team had previously completed a major reno on our home later followed by another on our deck, it was like calling in family to help us out again!

Their reliability, professionalism and creativity leave no worries for the home owner. We love our home and part of that is thanks to Shakespeare for helping us see our vision come to completion.

Read more testimonials and reviews about our projects in North Vancouver and West End.

Thinking about a renovation or custom home?

We were very happy with the work that Shakespeare Homes did on our house. Going into any renovation, whether small or large is always a stressful endeavour. However we found Mark to be conscientious and diligent in getting the work done on time and on budget. His trades are professional and always took care to clean up after themselves. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Mark Cooper to anyone who is looking for a trustworthy and professional contractor.

Just wanted to pass along our gratitude to you and all of your crew for doing such a great job of transforming of our little townhouse. Renovations are daunting. However, you did an exceptional job of managing the potential chaos that never came.

While this is not to say that we didn’t have little (er, okay some big) challenges along the way. From the flooding of our unit caused by a careless handyman working next door, to my insistence that our rather small 3 piece bath could indeed be transformed into a beautiful 4 piece tiled oasis, you took it all in stride.

What we really appreciated, more than anything was your connections with the trades and suppliers. We often felt lost and intimidated by the array of choices and possibilities. Your guidance and the professionalism of each of the subtrades you had on site, put at us at ease, and made it that much easier to find the right fit.

In the end, we have a home that is ours. Not only are we happy with the having experienced the renovation (several of our friends who have done renos have mentioned how lucky we were) but we see no reason to move regardless of what comes our way.

Thanks for making our house a home.

We availed of the services of Mark Cooper and Shakespeare Homes for an urgent repair/replacement of a deck cantilevered from the rear of our house. We were readying the house for sale and the repair was necessary in order to list the house successfully.

We discovered Shakespeare Homes via a Google search and were pleasantly surprised at how efficiently the repair went and most importantly ….. on budget!

Mark’s team were friendly, polite and worked in a fastidious and timely manner. There was little disruption or cleanup required after they completed the project. Mark was attentive to say the least, calling in to view progress and calling us to check if we were satisfied on a regular basis.

We would not hesitate in using Mark Cooper and Shakespeare Homes again.

After completing a renovation of the upper floor of our house a year ago we made the decision to follow up with a smaller project this past year that was designed to update two main living spaces on the lower floor of our home. Our objective was to complete the updated look of the house. Based on our satisfaction with the work done by Shakespeare Homes and Renovations one year ago, we chose to contract with them for this project as well.

Consistent with our experiences of one year ago, we found Shakespeare Homes and Renovations to once again provide the same high quality of results that had been the case with our previous project. Again, Mark Cooper and his team were courteous, reliable and competent in delivering the service that we had requested. When there was a challenge along the way, Mark was responsive and communicated effectively in addressing the issues.

The end result of the work that was provided met with our complete satisfaction. We appreciate everything that Shakespeare Homes and Renovations has done with respect to our renovation projects over the past two years and we feel confident that the quality of their work would meet the level of satisfaction expected by most people who might be intending to undertake a renovation project.

Thank you for your consideration of these thoughts.

Mark Cooper and Shakespeare Homes are a pleasure to work with. Their professionalism and dedication to customer satisfaction is evident at every stage of the construction process. Their understanding of the process and their ability to schedule and budget, and maintain good communication with the client is second to none.

At a time of high construction activity the positive and respectful relationship Mark Cooper and Shakespeare Homes have with the various trades they employ in construction pays big dividends in making the process proceed quickly and smoothly.

As a residential designer on the North Shore for over 35 years I have met many building contractors. Mark Cooper and his team at Shakespeare Homes are one of the best

Mark Cooper of Shakespeare Homes did some work on my home this past year. I found Mark and his team to be extremely professional. Not only was I impressed by the quality of the work, the job was done on time and at a reasonable price.

I found Shakespeare to be very caring, cooperative and listened to what my needs were.

My wife and I intend to do more renovating in the future and we will definitely be calling on Shakespeare Homes.

We hired Shakespeare Homes for some recent home renovation projects – a bathroom remodeling in the fall of 2004, and a kitchen remodeling this summer (2005).

On both occasions we were extremely satisfied with the work completed. All work was done on time and in a professional manner, and to a high standard. Through both jobs, Mark and his team were in constant contact with us to discuss ongoing parts of each job – their suggestions and recommendations were thoughtful, enhanced each project, and in most cases, saved us money. Furthermore, Mark has gone over and above on both occasions to give us significant discounts on materials and labor – both jobs came in almost exactly on budget.

We plan to use Shakespeare Homes on more jobs in the future, and we would have no reservations in giving them a great recommendation to any friends seeking a home builder/renovator.

I first met Mark Cooper at the North Vancouver Home Show in Lynn Valley, 2006.

After meeting with several other builders, we decided to pursue our home renovation ideas with him due to the strength of his interpersonal skills and his demonstrated ability to follow through on successful projects.

Over the subsequent months we worked closely with Mark and the designer (David Poskitt) from conceptual discussions right through to building permit drawings and submission. Mark was an eager participant throughout this process and his technical knowledge provided cost savings through value engineering to our initiative.

For personal reasons we were unable to complete our vision of renovating our home. Nevertheless, we have nothing but praise for Mark Cooper and we would highly recommend his services to anyone interested in carrying on with these or other home renovation plans.

Peter and I are thrilled with the new deck. It was a pleasure working with such a fair and honest company, as Shakespeare Homes.

Your crew always did what they said they would, and when they would.

Feel free to use us as a reference or just tell them we liked you so much that we’re bringing you back for our master bath.

We have used Mark Cooper of Shakespeare Homes on two occasions, firstly with the installation of French doors off our family room in 2004 and, more recently with the complete renewal of two sundecks with railings and installation of French doors off our living room. On both occasions we found the quality of work to be of high standard. We found Mark and his team to be very professional and accommodating.

Mark kept us fully informed on the progress of the work and timelines of the sub-trades. The job site was cleaned after completion of each work day.

We found Mark to be a person of integrity, open to suggestions and keen to solve unexpected problems to the satisfaction of his clients. He has a very strong desire to please his customers. He also ensures that the work performed by his sub-trades meets the same standard of quality that he has set for his team and, if for any reason it does not, he quickly ensures that the deficiencies are rectified.

We have no hesitation in recommending Mark and his team for any home renovation projects contemplated.